Charges have been filed against Mohonasen (N.Y) High School’s head wrestling coach, who was fired last week after he was seen on surveillance video striking a Freshman student-athlete in the face.
According to Syracuse.com, the coach has been identified as 65-year-old Terry Lawson, and he is facing “charges of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, and harassment to the 2nd degree.”
Related: High School Wrestling Coach Fired for Striking Freshman Student-Athlete
Prior to these charges, surveillance video from the high school showed a student-athlete, 14-year-old Elexis Rostocki, reaching toward the Lawson to get his attention. After two attempts to reach the coach, he “hit her directly in the face (…) started to point in her face and curse at her.”
Lawson was fired by Mohonasen High School the following day, and the family announced that they were considering legal action.
Said the student’s mother, Desire Rostocki, “I think any time that an adult puts their hands on a child, it’s a little disturbing. But I think it’s a little more jarring when it’s someone that you trust your daughter with and that she trusts as well.”
Lawson will appear in a Rotterdam town court to answer for the charges.
